North Dakota, 2019

Winter Weather in North Dakota, March 4, 2019

March 4, 2019 · NWS BIS · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Winter weather over western and central North Dakota on March 4th was worst over the higher terrain of western Stutsman County, around Medina. Several inches of snow fell over much of the state, and in anticipation of this, the National Weather Service posted a Winter Weather Advisory.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
3
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BIS wrote it up.

Winter weather over western and central North Dakota on March 4th was worst over the higher terrain of western Stutsman County, around Medina. Several inches of snow fell over much of the state, and in anticipation of this, the National Weather Service posted a Winter Weather Advisory. It was also windy with reduced visibility, especially over the higher terrain around Medina, where localized white-out conditions occurred in the early to mid afternoon. Around 1:20 PM traffic came up on a slow moving vehicle and attempted but failed to avoid an accident. As other vehicles came to a stop along the interstate they were hit from behind. At about 3:00 PM another accident occurred in this same area, about a mile away. In all eight vehicles became involved, including a parked sheriff's patrol vehicle. There were three indirect weather related injuries, and in addition, a deputy sheriff who was directing traffic narrowly escaped injury as he ran out of the way of an out of control vehicle, which brushed his leg as he ran for safety.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 3, 5:33 PM CST, 17 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 3, 5:33 PM CST, 17 hours 27 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Stutsman

When
March 4, 11:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Stutsman forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 3 indirect
Property damage
$60,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter weather on March 4th was worst over the higher terrain of western Stutsman County, around Medina. Several inches of snow fell and it was also windy with reduced visibility and localized white-out conditions in the early to mid afternoon. Eight vehicles were involved in traffic accidents along interstate 94 in the Medina area. There were three indirect weather related injuries.

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, March 2019

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 815675.